Around 2,000 children under 14 years old died after a home injury.
We want our little ones to be safe whether it’s crawling around the living room to having a safe journey in the car. Perhaps you’re baby-proofing your home and are worried about missing a major hazard.
Sound familiar? If so, you’ve come to the right place. Here’s how to keep your baby safe.
Baby-Proof the Bedroom
The first step to keeping your baby safe is ensuring they have safe sleeping habits. Your baby should always sleep on his/her back because sleeping on their stomach increases the risk of sudden death syndrome (SDS).
To protect your baby, avoid buying soft bedding that could suffocate them like blankets, stuffed toys, and pillows. All you need is a firm mattress covered with a tight-fitting crib sheet so avoid cluttering their sleeping area.
Further, make sure the crib slats are at least 3 inches apart so your baby’s head doesn’t get stuck and vice versa. As a general rule, if you can easily fit a soda can between the slats then it’s not safe for your baby.
Keep their bedroom at room temperature so they don’t overheat and get a baby monitor so you can tend to them if they cry. Check out these baby monitor reviews for inspiration.
Secure the Nursery
A useful baby safety tip is securing the nursery to prevent accidents. Although babies find them soothing, remove mobiles that have stringers longer than seven inches as your little one may sit up and yank them. To protect your child when you’re changing diapers, buckle them up on the table so they don’t fall.
You should also regularly inspect your baby’s toys. Make sure that they aren’t sharp and can’t come apart otherwise they’re a choking hazard.
Promote a Safe Bathtime
Make sure you have a safe baby during bathtime by taking the right preventative measures.
You must never leave your little one alone in the bathroom especially if there’s standing water in the tub. Babies are naturally drawn to water because they want to splash around but this is dangerous because they could drown in even a few inches.
Before putting your baby in the water, test the temperature by dipping your elbow into it. The bath water should be just above 100 degrees Fahrenheit to prevent chilling or burning your little one. Further, store electronic appliances like hair dryers or radios so they’re unplugged and out of reach.
And don’t forget grooming products. For instance, lotions, oils, or shampoos can be toxic if your baby ingests them. You should also store sharp items like razors or curling irons in a cabinet with a childproof latch.
Practice Baby Safety in the Car
Avoid buying second-hand car seats because they may not be fully safe especially if it’s already been through an accident. Choose a federally approved car safety seat and read the instructions so that it’s properly installed.
Note that until your baby is two years old, the car seat should face the rear of the vehicle and keep it in the middle of the back seat. Further, never leave little ones in the car in the summer because babies heat up almost five times quicker than adults.
Baby-Proof the Kitchen
Kitchens can be potentially dangerous for babies so gate off this room or keep a close eye on your little one when you’re in it. Avoid handling hot foods, drinks, or crockery near your baby because it could scold them.
Because babies love to grab things, only cook on the back burners on the stove and turn pot handles away from the edge.
If you’ve got a dishwasher, invest in a robust dishwasher lock, point all sharp utensils down, and only add detergent just before you wash a load of the dishes. Be wary of your other cleaning supplies too. Make sure they’re in child-resistant packaging and stored out of reach of your little ones.
You should also learn how to safely feed your baby. Never prop up your baby’s bottle or leave your little one unattended with it because they could choke. Further, avoid giving your little one raw carrots, nuts, or other small bits of food that could be a choking hazard.
And when your baby is in their high chairs, properly strap them in so they don’t slide out.
Other Precautions to Take
Examine your home for any safety hazards. Parents should install guards or stops so windows can’t open more than three inches and place security gates at the top and bottom of the stars. You should also cover outlets with sliding or box covers instead of plastic plugs because babies can easily pull these out.
Use brackets to secure your furniture and TV because they could topple onto young children. You should also consider putting cushions on table corners to prevent any accidents.
If you’ve got a fireplace then section off the area and store matches, lighters, and other sharp tools in a locked cabinet.
That’s How to Keep Your Baby Safe
Hopefully, this article has taught you how to keep your baby safe around the house.
Our homes are riddled with hazards so evaluate every room and spot potential risks. You must baby-proof the bedroom, nursery, kitchen, and bathroom so your little one stays safe. Further, follow the right practices for sleeping and feeding your little one. Good luck!
Did you find this article helpful? Awesome! Then check out our posts on everything from Career to Health.
